Risk of massive radiation leaks ‘considerably smaller’: Edano
Apr. 11, 2011
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Monday that the government is working to expand the scope of evacuation in areas surrounding the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant due to concerns about the cumulative, long-term risk of radiation.
The move is being made despite a pronouncement by the government that the risk of high-level radiation leaks from the plant is much lower than at the beginning of the crisis.
''The risk that the situation will worsen and that there would be new massive emissions of radioactive materials is becoming considerably lower,'' he told a news conference.
At the same time, Edano said the government is in final discussions with local governments to issue an evacuation order to those who live in the 20 to 30 kilometer radius of the nuclear station, similar to the instruction given to those living in the 20-km range. Residents in the 20 to 30 km radius are at the moment urged to stay indoors.
''Even if there are no new emissions of radioactive substances, radiation may come out from soil...and this could affect one's health if he or she stays in the affected area for a long time,'' he said.
''From the standpoint of accumulated radiation, we need to take the necessary measures to ensure people's safety.''
Edano also indicated that a review of the evacuation areas will not necessarily cover the entire area, but certain locations within that zone which could be affected by long-term radiation exposure.
After the March 11 earthquake and tsunami crippled the power station some 220 km northeast of Tokyo, the government has directed people within 20 km to evacuate and those in the 20 to 30 km ring to stay indoors or ''voluntarily leave'' the area as it is difficult to lead a normal life due to a lack of goods and services in the face of radiation concerns.
Still, some residents have begun returning to the 20-km area at their own risk to collect belongings, prompting the government to consider legislation making the area legally off-limits, with people other than those engaged in disaster relief prohibited from entering.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 11, 2011)
The move is being made despite a pronouncement by the government that the risk of high-level radiation leaks from the plant is much lower than at the beginning of the crisis.
''The risk that the situation will worsen and that there would be new massive emissions of radioactive materials is becoming considerably lower,'' he told a news conference.
At the same time, Edano said the government is in final discussions with local governments to issue an evacuation order to those who live in the 20 to 30 kilometer radius of the nuclear station, similar to the instruction given to those living in the 20-km range. Residents in the 20 to 30 km radius are at the moment urged to stay indoors.
''Even if there are no new emissions of radioactive substances, radiation may come out from soil...and this could affect one's health if he or she stays in the affected area for a long time,'' he said.
''From the standpoint of accumulated radiation, we need to take the necessary measures to ensure people's safety.''
Edano also indicated that a review of the evacuation areas will not necessarily cover the entire area, but certain locations within that zone which could be affected by long-term radiation exposure.
After the March 11 earthquake and tsunami crippled the power station some 220 km northeast of Tokyo, the government has directed people within 20 km to evacuate and those in the 20 to 30 km ring to stay indoors or ''voluntarily leave'' the area as it is difficult to lead a normal life due to a lack of goods and services in the face of radiation concerns.
Still, some residents have begun returning to the 20-km area at their own risk to collect belongings, prompting the government to consider legislation making the area legally off-limits, with people other than those engaged in disaster relief prohibited from entering.
(Distributed by Kyodo News on April 11, 2011)
